Introduction

Morelli, Federico; Benedetti, Yanina; Tryjanowski, Piotr

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-50284-7_1

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 68 publications

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“…Natural and semi-natural grasslands across the world are known for their high biodiversity value 1 – 3 . Extensively managed High Nature Value (HNV) farmlands are recognized as key habitats for several taxa in Europe, namely butterflies 4 and birds 5 , 6 , and the maintenance of such landscapes is considered a priority for European biodiversity 7 . However, they are often subjected to changes in management, such as conversion to other land uses, agriculture intensification or abandonment 3 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in grassland management and linear infrastructures associated to the decline of an endangered bird population

Marques

Moreira

Alcazar

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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European grassland birds are experiencing major population declines, mainly due to changes in farmland management. We analyzed the role of habitat availability, grazing management and linear infrastructures (roads and power lines) in explaining spatial and temporal variation in the population density of little bustards (Tetrax tetrax) in Portugal, during a decade in which the species population size halved. We used data from 51 areas (totaling ca. 1,50,000 ha) that were sampled in two different periods (2003–2006 and 2016). In 2003–2006, when the species occurred at high densities, habitat availability was the only factor affecting spatial variation in bustard density. In the 2016 survey, variation in density was explained by habitat availability and livestock management, with reduced bird numbers in areas with higher proportions of cattle. Population declines across the study period were steeper in areas that initially held higher densities of bustards and in areas with a higher proportion of cattle in the total stocking rate. Areas with higher densities of power lines also registered greater density declines, probably due to avoidance behavior and to increased mortality. Overall, our results show little bustards are currently lacking high quality grassland habitat, whose persistence depends on extensive grazing regimes and low linear infrastructure densities.

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